February 22, 2006 Source: Wilfrid Laurier University:
http://www.athletics.wlu.ca/createarticle.asp?ID=2577 Hawks knock of #8-ranked Brock and head to OUA West division championship Posted by Ari Grossman (Sports Information Coordinator) ST. CATHARINES - A capacity crowd was reduced to stunned silence – and the Brock Badgers women’s basketball team weren’t far behind. The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, for the second time in a week, spoiled the home town celebrations with yet another superb performance. Trailing by seven at halftime, Laurier powered to an 83-72 win over the CIS No.8-ranked Badgers. While the victory put the Hawks (11-11 in season play) in the West Division championship, it also eliminated Image 1 from Mighty Goliath Falls to Lauriera powerhouse Brock team who finished the season with a 19-3 record. Earlier in the week, Laurier punched a hole in the Western Mustangs hopes beating them 70-67 in London. It was the fourth consecutive year that Laurier beat Western in a sudden death game. Laurier’s brilliant shooting guard Meghan McGrath, chosen the OUA West Division Player of the Year, scored a game-high 32 points (tying her career high) - which included seven three-point baskets in nine attempts and was 5-of-8 from the free throw line. "The second half was big for us and our defensive game gave (Brock) all sorts of trouble," said McGrath, No. 1 in Canada in steals with 66 and an OUA first team all-star for a remarkable third consecutive year. Two other Laurier guards had big games - Jillian Ritsma added 12 points while Laura Taylor had a double-double pumping 10 points and 15 rebounds. In total, nine of 10 Golden Hawks scored points. "We’re playing with a great deal of confidence, everyone is having fun and the pressure is on the other team to beat us," said Taylor, a third year player and graduate of Waterloo Collegiate. For Brock, Jodie Eberling scored 24 points – only five in the final half – while Erin Allen added 21. "It’s a great feeling, McGrath with yet another impressive game but all the others also stepped up making it a great team effort," said an ecstatic coach Stu Julius, whose Hawks have made the playoffs for the fifth consecutive time. Laurier will meet McMaster for the OUA West Division championship on Feb. 25 in Hamilton. The winner not only advances to the OUA final but advances to the national championships from March 10 to 12 at the University of New Brunswick.
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